Arrested: Couple Wanted for Attempted Murder in Bogalusa

The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office reports the arrests on March 24, 2025 of 19 year-old Ivan Fletcher and 23 year-old Maya Price, both wanted by Bogalusa Police in connection with a shooting in Bogalusa on March 21, 2025. 

On March 21, 2025, LPSO was contacted by the Bogalusa Police Department requesting an attempt to locate Ivan Fletcher following a shooting in its jurisdiction. Bogalusa investigators indicated that Fletcher and his girlfriend - Maya Price - arrived in the area for Price to engage in a fistic encounter. According to investigators, Fletcher began firing a handgun into a vehicle occupied by five subjects - with one possibly being a 5 month old. BPD obtained arrest warrants on the couple, charging Fletcher with 5 counts of Attempted First Degree Murder and Price with 5 counts of Principal to Attempted First Degree Murder.

Narcotics Agents with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office have been investigating a local gang - referred to as the ‘Motion Gang’. Sheriff Jason Ard says, “Through the scope of the investigation, LPSO Agents learned this is a ‘hybrid gang’ in the Springfield, Hammond and Ponchatoula areas. Members primarily engage in illegal narcotics distribution and street violence and consist of adults and juveniles. Agents identified multiple members and found a common place for them to hang out and distribute illegal narcotics was Pardue Road in Springfield.”

Sheriff Ard says, “On March 24, 2025, LPSO Agents began conducting surveillance of the known "Motion Gang" hangout on Pardue. Agents observed Fletcher in his vehicle and began to follow him. When Fletcher travelled into Tangipahoa Parish, LPSO Agents requested the assistance of TPSO narcotics. Fletcher and Price were stopped on I-12 at the Hammond exit and were taken into custody by Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office.”

Fletcher's vehicle was towed back to Livingston. Search Warrants were secured and LPSO Agents
located the following: approx 180 grams of marijuana, approx 4 dosage units of Oxycodone, approx 2 dosage units of pressed fentanyl pills, approx 30 fl oz of promethazine, THC vape carts, 3 handguns, 2 - 22 caliber rifles, 1 - 7.62 caliber AR style pistol (reported stolen), and $4,561 US Currency (pending seizure). 

Sheriff says, “This is not the type of activity we want to see here. We’re investing our time & attention into making sure gang members are not comfortable here. Gang-type activity will NOT be tolerated. We’re watching. We’re sharing information with our partner agencies. Citizens, see something? Say something. Let’s work together to protect our community.”

Anyone with information about suspicious activity is encouraged to call us at 225-686-2241 x1, submit a tip via our LPSO APP or call CRIMESTOPPERS at (225) 344-STOP (7867) for a possible cash reward.

Obituary

Russell Jay Nielson

January 6, 1951 - March 30, 2025

Washington Parish Sheriff's Office Announces Promotion, Citations

Last Friday (March 28, 2025, Washington Parish Sheriff Jason Smith presented two citations and promoted a deputy to Sergeant during his monthly all-hands meeting at the courthouse in Franklinton. Every month, the Sheriff meets with his deputies to discuss changes, provide updates, and present awards.

Sheriff Smith would like to congratulate Jonathan Shane Hickman on his promotion from Deputy First Class to Sergeant. Sgt. Hickman, 37, has been a Deputy Sheriff for two years and has a total of 4 years of Law Enforcement experience. Prior to his career in Law Enforcement, Sgt. Hickman served 4 years in the United States Army.

Deputies Keaton Ruffino and Katherine Ordoyne were both presented with citations for their actions following a mass shooting that took place in Franklinton on March 2. Ruffino and Ordoyne were both near the shooting when it happened, and after securing the area, jumped into action to treat and stabilize victims until medical professionals arrived on scene. Following the incident, both Deputies escorted the victims to nearby hospitals and provided security, despite having already worked a 12-hour shift that day.

Despite both being relatively new to the Sheriff’s Office, Deputies Ruffino and Ordoyne acted upon their training to quickly assess a chaotic situation and render aid to those in need. Their actions that day exemplify the spirit of sacrifice and service that all Deputy Sheriff’s aspire to, and could very well have saved the lives of the victims that they treated.

Obituary

Emma Dean Morgan McDaniel

January 4, 1939 - March 27, 2025

Obituary

Rosa Dean Brock

April 15, 1925 - March 27, 2025

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for March 29-30, 2025

William Thomas (age 33 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Driving While Intoxicated (2nd Offense), Improper Lane Usage, and Open Container in Vehicle by the Franklinton Police Department. Released on $6000.00 bond.

Dominique Warren (age 37 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Contempt of Court by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Released on $10000.00 bond.

Jerome Peters (age 19 with Angie, La. address) was booked on the charges of Contempt of Court and Simple Battery by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $2500.00.

Jeremy Meyn (age 39 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Battery of Infirm, Theft Less Than 1000, Theft of Firearm, Second Degree Battery, and 2nd Degree Rape/Vaginal. Bond set at $15000.00.

Kayle Cutrer (age 19 with Angie, La. address) was booked on the charges of Battery of a Dating Partner and Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Alfredo Cortez (age 36 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Driving While Intoxicated, License Plate Light Required, No Drivers License, and Improper Lane Usage by the Franklinton Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Sylvia Alexander (age 66 with Angie, La. address) was booked on the charge of Issuing Worthless Checks Under 1000 by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Joshua Pittman (age 44 with Angie, La. address) was booked on the charge of Domestic Violence Battery (2nd Offense) by the Franklinton Police Department. No bond set at this time.

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***

Today's Headlines from NPR News

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog before 9am. High near 83. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tonight   Increasing clouds, with a low around 59. North wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.

Tuesday   Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday   Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Wednesday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Pearl River Man Convicted of Indecent Behavior With Girlfriend's 8 Year-Old Daughter

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on March 28, 2025, a St. Tammany Parish jury returned a guilty verdict against 48-year-old Lawrence Burt of Pearl River who was charged with Indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of thirteen.  Assistant District Attorneys Luke Lancaster and Jay Adair presented the case to the jury with Judge Alan Black presiding over the four-day trial.  Detective Nicholas Fishel, formerly with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Office and now with Louisiana State Police, was the lead detective during the investigation.

According to trial testimony, deputies with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched in March, 2022, to a Pearl River residence in reference to a sexual abuse complaint.  Upon arrival, deputies spoke to a woman who said her 8-year-old daughter had been touched inappropriately by her boyfriend, Lawrence Burt.

The complaint was forwarded to Detective Fishel for investigation.  He arranged for the child to be taken to the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Hope House in Covington where the child was interviewed by forensic interviewer Cally Huggins. During the interview, the child said Burt would sneak into her bedroom during the night on multiple occasions and touch her inappropriately.  The child said she tried to lock her bedroom door at night but Burt would “fuss” at her.  She said she had been afraid to tell her mother what Burt was doing because she feared it would make him angry and he would kill her family.  The girl’s mother was interviewed and she said Burt frequently stayed up during the night playing video games and watching pornography.  She said he had tampered with the lock on her daughter’s bedroom door. 

An arrest warrant was issued and detectives made repeated attempts to locate Burt.  They discovered Burt abandoned his residence and abruptly quit his job.  After intensive efforts and assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Burt was located at a Slidell apartment complex and arrested.  When questioned about the accusations against him, Burt said the victim was lying.  He said anyone could make false allegations against him and he would be taken to jail because he is a convicted sex offender.  When asked why he ran if he was innocent, he said he wasn’t running, he was just helping a friend move.  Burt then admitted he saw the police at his residence when his friend drove him back to his house.  He said they did not stop and that he knew there was a warrant for his arrest.

Sentencing for Burt is set in May, 2025.  The penalty for Indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of thirteen is imprisonment for two to twenty-five years.  Burt has a prior conviction for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl when he was 31 years old. He also has a conviction for theft and two convictions for failing to register as a convicted sex offender.

Obituary

Martin Kemp Blackwell

March 13, 1956 - March 28, 2025

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight   A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday   Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 84. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Monday Night   Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday   A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for March 28, 2025

Thomas Allemand (age 27 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Driving While Intoxicated and Prohibited Acts by the Franklinton Police Department. Released March 29, 2025.

Kevin Levi (age 62 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of No Turn Signals, Driving While Intoxicated, and Issuing Worthless Checks 0-100 by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $3000.00.

Madeline Carnegie (age 45 with Mt. Hermon, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving Under Suspension, No License Plate, and No Insurance by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Kenneth Ishman (age 40 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction and Failure to Appear by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $1160.00.

***All persons are innocent until proven guilty***

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 78. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tonight   Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday   A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 7am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday Night   Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 67. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday   Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday Night   Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph.

Folsom Man Convicted of First Degree Murder of 7-Month Old Son

UPDATE April 21, 2025: Nauck sentenced to life in prison on April 16, 2025. 

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on March 27, 2025, a St. Tammany Parish jury found 32-year-old Corey Nauck, Sr. guilty of First Degree Murder.  Assistant District Attorneys Iain Dover and Angelina Valuri presented the case to the jury with Judge William H. Burris presiding over the 4-day trial.  Detective Daniel Buckner with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office was the lead detective in the investigation.

According to trial testimony, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office was notified at approximately 9:10 am, on February 26, 2018, that a 7-month old infant had arrived at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in critical condition with suspicious and obvious head injuries. The baby had been brought to the STPH emergency room by his father, Corey Nauck, who did not initially explain how the child had been injured while they were at home together, after his wife went to work.  Several medical personnel testified that Nauck provided numerous explanations about how the baby had been gravely injured, which included the baby being dropped and alternatively the baby falling off of a changing table. 

Due to the severity of the baby’s skull fracture, the child was airlifted to a south shore hospital, where he was determined by medical officials to have no brain activity.  Two days later, on February 28, 2018, the baby was taken off of life support and pronounced deceased.  Following an autopsy conducted that same day, the baby’s death was ruled a homicide.

Click here for previous reporting

Law enforcement officials located and arrested Nauck later that evening at a family member’s home in Mississippi.  Nauck eventually confessed that he had “lost it” after his son wouldn’t stop crying.  He admitted and demonstrated to investigators how he slammed the baby’s head on the ground 5-7 times.  Nauck explained how he didn’t tell anyone about what he had done to his son because he knew “he [the Defendant] was going to lose everything and everyone.”  Nauck further admitted he never called 911 to seek out medical assistance.  He described how he drove the baby through Covington in his vehicle after knowing he was critically injured, because his other 5 year old son needed to be dropped off at school. 

Throughout the trial, jurors listened to testimony from the baby’s medical teams at both of the hospitals where he received treatment for his injuries.  All of those witnesses explained to jurors how the baby was so severely injured, that his case would follow them for the rest of their life.  Defense counsel conceded that Nauck was solely responsible for his baby’s death, but asserted he did not intend to kill him.  In the first closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Angelina Valuri stated, “Let your verdict of guilty as charged be the last voice this little boy hears before he finally rests in peace.”  Assistant District Attorney Iain Dover said in his closing argument, “The only just outcome in this case is a life sentence.  Hand the Defendant a life sentence for the death sentence he handed his 7-month old son.”

The jury concluded Nauck acted with the specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily injury upon his son and found him guilty of First Degree Murder.  Nauck’s sentencing is set for April 16, 2025.  The mandatory sentence for First Degree Murder is life imprisonment, without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. 

District Attorney Collin Sims would like to thank the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. Tammany Parish Hospital, the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Child Advocacy Center, and Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans for all of their hard work and dedication in this case.

Handcuffed Getaway: Shoplifting Suspects Arrested in Slidell - Handcuffed - Escaped - One Caught After Ordering Lyft Ride-Share

On Wednesday (March 26, 2025), Slidell Police started investigating a multi-state shoplifting spree. During the investigation, officers located the suspects driving in the area after shoplifting from a nearby retailer. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the suspects, and as the vehicle pulled over, a passenger got out. Officers began placing the passenger in handcuffs, and as soon as the handcuffs went on, the driver took off in the vehicle while the passenger bolted on foot - STILL IN HANDCUFFS! The passenger was spotted getting into a Lyft ride-share vehicle several blocks away, arrested again, and taken to jail on felony theft and resisting charges.

The driver has managed to evade capture for the time being, but Louisiana State Police located the vehicle, which was unoccupied. 

Bogalusa Police Makes Arrest in Homicide of Franklinton Man

The Bogalusa Police Department reports that on Thursday (March 27, 2025), Officers with the Bogalusa Police Department located and arrested Jerry Charles Baker, Jr. on felony warrant charges of Second Degree Murder, Illegal Use Of Weapons, and Possession of Weapons by a Convicted Felon. 

This investigation stems from a shooting incident that occurred on January 2, 2025 in Bogalusa that ultimately resulted in the death of Ryan Simmons of Franklinton. After an extensive investigation, warrants were issued for Baker. 

Upon his arrest, Baker was reportedly in possession of a stolen firearm and legend drugs that resulted in additional charges. 

This matter will be forwarded to the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Obituary

Barbara McCann Welch

January 30, 1934 - March 24, 2025

District Attorney’s Office Expands Opioid Initiative

Press Release from District Attorney Collin Sims

Since its launch on July 8, 2024, the District Attorney’s Office has laid a strong foundation for the Opioid Initiative, a comprehensive effort aimed at combating the opioid epidemic through law enforcement collaboration and intelligence-sharing.  What began as a small team of consisting of an investigator with the District Attorney’s Office and two narcotics detectives in Slidell has rapidly expanded into a powerful coalition of agencies working together to dismantle drug networks and prevent overdose deaths.

“We knew from the beginning that addressing the opioid crisis would require a unified approach,” District Attorney Collin Sims stated.  “Today, we stand alongside multiple local, state, and federal partners, all committed to making our communities safer.”

The Opioid Initiative now includes:

• DEA FORT (Fentanyl Overdose Response Team)
• HSI (Homeland Security Investigations)
• Slidell Police Department
• Covington Police Department
• Pearl River Police Department
• Mandeville Police Department
• St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office
• Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office
• Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office
• Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office
• Louisiana State Police Region One Narcotics Task Force
• New Orleans Police Department’s Newly Formed Intelligence Group
• St. Tammany and Washington Parishes District Attorney’s Office

“The DEA‘s Fentanyl Overdose Response Team is committed to providing unwavering support to our partners and working tirelessly to bring justice for the victims of this devastating epidemic,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul Seale. “It’s through these collaborative efforts - leveraging the resources of multiple agencies - that we are seeing real progress on the Northshore and beyond.

Since October 2024, the initiative has yielded significant results, including 320,000 fentanyl pills seized in and around the St. Tammany area, along with 2 kilograms of pure fentanyl, over $425,000 in cash, 75 firearms, 2 kilograms of heroin, 3 kilograms of methamphetamine, over 600 oxycodone pills, 7000 tapentadol pills, 1 kilogram of cocaine, and various other illegal drugs.

Additionally, the initiative has played a critical role in the prosecution of overdose-related cases. 

• In December of 2024, a St. Tammany jury returned a conviction for 2nd Degree murder in the overdose death of a Covington High School student.  The defendant, Felicia Grantham, is set to be sentenced to life in prison on March 24th.  
• In January of 2025, a St. Tammany Parish Grand Jury returned an indictment of two individuals for the charge of Possession with the Intent to Distribute 250 grams or more of Fentanyl. If convicted, these individuals face a sentence of up to life in prison.  
• On March 18, 2025, the District Attorney’s Office secured an indictment of Dayon Dyson for 2nd Degree murder in the overdose death of Washington Parish School Board member, Frankie Crosby.  
• The initiative has also led to indictments in other jurisdictions: one at the federal level and another in the 21st Judicial District.

The District Attorney’s Office has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for opioid distribution related crimes. Drug dealers whose distribution results in fatal overdoses will face second-degree murder charges, as outlined in Louisiana law.

“We will not tolerate those who profit from the suffering of others,” stated Sims.  “If you distribute these deadly substances and someone dies as a result, we will pursue charges for second-degree murder.”

The expansion of the Opioid Initiative underscores the District Attorney’s Office’s unwavering commitment to fighting the opioid crisis. By bringing together multiple law enforcement agencies, sharing intelligence, and executing strategic operations, this coalition is making an undeniable impact in the region. 

“This is just the beginning,” said Sims. “We will continue to work aggressively, holding fentanyl traffickers accountable and seeking justice for families affected by this crisis.”

Ponchatoula Woman Convicted of Vehicular Homicide

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on March 25, 2025, 26-year-old Kendall Morris of Ponchatoula was found guilty of Vehicular Homicide, First degree vehicular negligent injuring and two counts of Vehicular negligent injuring after a judge trial before Judge Scott Gardner.  The defendant previously waived her right to a jury trial in the case.  Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Nicholson and Gary Tromblay prosecuted the case.  Deputies Ryan Moring and James Runyon with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Department led the investigation.

According to trial testimony, deputies with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched shortly before midnight on January 13, 2024, to a single-car accident on Archie Singletary Road near Pearl River.  Upon arrival, deputies found an overturned Honda SUV partially in the roadway. It was determined there had been four passengers in the vehicle in addition to the driver.  Evidence on the scene indicated the driver lost control of the vehicle while attempting to navigate a curve in the roadway.  The vehicle left the roadway and struck several trees, causing the vehicle to flip upside down before coming to rest.  Three of the four passengers were ejected during the crash.  One of them, 36-year-old Jeremy Duncan, suffered fatal injuries.  The remaining three passengers and the driver, Kendall Morris, sustained non-fatal injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment.

During the trial, prosecutors introduced evidence that Morris was significantly impaired by alcohol at the time of the accident.  Tests conducted by the hospital during its treatment of Morris indicated her BAC was 0.27, more than three times the “legal limit” for operating a vehicle.  Additionally, deputies obtained a court order less than three hours after the accident authorizing law enforcement to take a blood draw from Morris.  That blood sample was later sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory in Baton Rouge for analysis.  The results indicated Morris had a BAC in excess of 0.20, consistent with the hospital’s test results.  

Throughout the trial, defense counsel asserted Morris was not the driver of the vehicle when the accident occurred and therefore was not guilty.  Prosecutors countered the defense’s claim by introducing various testimony and evidence.  One of the passengers testified that when the overturned vehicle came to a rest, Morris was still secured in the driver’s seat by her seatbelt and was suspended upside down.  Two passengers had to free Morris from her seatbelt before she could exit the vehicle.  Photographs taken of Morris at the hospital were introduced into evidence, depicting bruising across the defendant’s chest in a diagonal pattern consistent with the positioning of the driver’s seatbelt.  A DNA expert testified that blood stains collected from the driver’s airbag were tested and determined to contain DNA consistent with the defendant’s DNA profile.  Medical records reflected Morris told one of the treating physicians her last memory before the accident was of her driving the vehicle.  Furthermore, video from the body-worn camera of the deputy who interviewed Morris at the hospital after the accident was introduced during the trial.  In the video, Morris initially said “Sarah” was driving, then said “they” were driving and then conceded she was the driver.  Deputies confirmed there was no one named Sarah in the vehicle on the date of the incident.

Sentencing for Morris is set for April 23, 2025.  The penalty for Vehicular homicide is imprisonment for five to thirty years.  The penalty for First degree vehicular negligent injuring is imprisonment for up to five years and for Vehicular negligent injuring, the penalty is up to six months imprisonment.

Obituary

Jayvelyn Keyquone Smith

May 14, 2006 - March 19, 2025

Obituary

Wesley D. Taylor

July 8, 1949 – March 25, 2025

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for March 26-27, 2025

Angela Lott (age 50 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Failure to Appear by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Released on $500.00 bond.

Daria Magee (age 58 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of CDS With Weapon Present, Contempt of Court (4 counts), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Inadequate Windshield, and Failure to Use Turn Signal by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Released on $50740.00 bond.

Kelvin Thompson (age 24 with Tylertown, Ms. address) was booked on the charges of Failure to Appear and Bond Surrender by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $25000.00.

Madison Cortez (age 26 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Russell Bonura (age 17 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Theft of Auto/Vehicle by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Trivual Batiste (age 55 with Rayne, La. address) was booked on the charge of Parole Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

Amanda Carnegie (age 47 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (3rd + Offense), and Possession of Schedule 1 Drugs by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Letesha Smith (age 29 with Osyka, Ms. address) was booked on the charges of Bond Surrender, Contempt of Court, Armed Robbery With Firearm, Second Degree Kidnapping, Simple Escape, and Tampering With Electronic Monitoring Equipment. Bond set at $25000.00.

***All persons are innocent until proven guilty***

Today's Headlines from NPR News

Obituary

Edna Rose Langston

October 28, 1937 - March 26, 2025

Obituary

Donnis Strahan Lang

January 6, 1950 - March 26, 2025

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight   Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday   Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10am. High near 77. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night   A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday   A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night   A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 10 mph.

Obituary

Tayre Williams

July 18, 1969 - March 4, 2025

Kidnapping Charge Added for Driver, Passenger Following Pursuit that Resulted in STPSO Sergeant’s Death

The driver and one of the passengers are now facing a kidnapping charge in connection with the pursuit that resulted in the death of St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Sergeant Grant Candies.

Click here for the previous story

Sergeant Candies was assisting with a pursuit early Sunday (March 23, 2025) morning when he was struck and killed by a vehicle being driven by 17-year-old Adrian Waughtal of Slidell. Waughtal was arrested for Aggravated Flight, First Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree Murder. He remains in custody and is being held without bond.

The vehicle was also occupied during the pursuit by four additional passengers.

Two of those passengers, 17-year-old Mason Paul Eugene Fischer, who was seated in the front passenger seat of the vehicle; and 17-year-old Michael Emanuel Lanier, who was seated in the rear seat of the vehicle with two females; were arrested and booked for First Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree Murder, after the investigation revealed they played a significant role in the pursuit and subsequently, Candies’ death. Fischer was released on bond Wednesday (March 26, 2025).

On Wednesday (March 26, 2025) night, warrants were issued for the arrest of Fischer (pictured right above) and Waughtal (pictured left above) for Second-degree Kidnapping after detectives learned through the investigation that once the pursuit began, Fischer and Waughtal refused to stop and allow the two females to exit the vehicle, despite repeated pleas from the females to do so. Waughtal was rebooked for Second-degree Kidnapping. Fischer was located late Wednesday (March 26, 2025) night at a residence in Slidell, and was brought back the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center, where he was booked on the warrant for Second-degree Kidnapping.

Obituary

Barbara Jean Murphee Leco

August 8, 1947 - March 26, 2025

Today's Headlines from NPR News

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tonight   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday   A slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday Night   A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a chance of showers between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday   Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 76. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday Night   A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Obituary

Ricky James Smith

January 7, 1967 - March 25, 2025

Slidell Man Convicted of Murder in Parking Lot Shooting

District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on March 20, 2025, a St. Tammany Parish jury found 27-year-old Jamiel Miller guilty of Second degree murder and Obstruction of justice after deliberating for approximately two hours.  Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Nicholson and Tiffany Dover presented the case to the jury with Judge Scott Gardner presiding over the 4-day trial.  Detective Scott O’Shaughnessy with the Slidell Police Department was the lead detective in the investigation.

Click here for previous related story

According to trial testimony, the Slidell Police Department was notified at approximately 10:30 pm on June 25, 2023, of a shooting at an apartment complex on Gause Boulevard.  Officers who responded found 26-year-old Tavante Williamson on the ground, unconscious with a gunshot wound to his chest.  Williamson was transported to a local hospital but did not survive his injuries.

Officers interviewed several witnesses present on the scene.  Officers learned that Miller had shot Williamson in the parking lot of the apartment complex.  One of the witnesses was Miller’s girlfriend who was also the former girlfriend of Williamson, with whom she had three children.  She said Williamson had called her, wanting her to come get two of their children from him.  Miller drove her to Williamson’s apartment.  While Miller remained in the driver’s seat of their car, the girlfriend went to the door of Williamson’s apartment and the two spoke.  The woman walked back to the parking lot with Williamson and the two children following behind her.  As they approached the vehicle, Williamson and the woman began arguing.  They continued arguing across the roof the car as the woman stood next to the front passenger’s door and Williamson stood near the driver’s door.  Their two kids entered the back seat of vehicle.  As the argument continued, Miller pointed a Glock 27 handgun out the open driver’s window and fired several shots, striking Williamson in the chest.  Miller then fled the scene on foot.

Throughout the trial, defense counsel asserted Miller was fearful of Williamson due to previous altercations between the two.  Defense said Miller acted in self-defense when he shot Williamson.  After prosecutors concluded presenting testimony from several of the witnesses to the shooting, Miller took the witness stand in his own defense.  He testified that moments before the shooting, he told Williamson to stay away from him but Williamson still moved closer to him.  Miller initially testified Williamson was unaware he had a gun.  However, Miller later changed his testimony and said Williamson saw the gun and said “Are you going to hit me with that?”  Miller said he fired the gun out the driver’s window simply to scare Williamson and that he didn’t want to kill Williamson.  Miller admitted saying “I told y’all I wasn’t playing” after he fired the shots.

On cross-examination, ADA Dover immediately zeroed in on Miller’s claim he only intended to scare Williamson.  Dover asked Miller if he realized he had just confessed to second degree murder while on the witness stand.  Dover reminded Miller in order for him to validly claim he killed Williamson in self-defense, Miller must have reasonably believed he was in imminent danger of losing his life or receiving great bodily harm and that killing Williamson was necessary to save himself from that danger.  Dover told Miller he already had acknowledged he did not fear he would lose his life or receive great bodily harm.  Miller responded by saying no one taught him the law on self-defense.

The jury concluded Miller did not act in self-defense and found him guilty of Second degree murder.  The jury also convicted Miller of Obstruction of justice in connection with him disposing of the handgun after he fled the scene.  Miller’s sentencing is set for April 22, 2025.  The sentence for Second degree murder is mandatory life imprisonment.  The sentence for Obstruction of justice is imprisonment for up to forty years.

Obituary

Donald Ray Williams

February 7, 1963 - March 25, 2025

Arrest Warrant Issued for Mandeville Man After Woman Attacked

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of 26 year-old Sean Donovan, a resident of Beau Chene in Mandeville, after an attack on a woman while she was walking in a Mandeville-area subdivision.

Shortly before 7 p.m. Monday (March 24, 2025) a woman called the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office to report she was attacked while walking on the Beau Chene walking path. She told deputies an unknown male on a black motorcycle, wearing a black helmet, a brown trench coat and gray joggers grabbed her from behind, lifted her from her footing, forced to her to the ground and began punching her. The woman was able to escape, and she ran to her residence, where she contacted law enforcement.

STPSO reports that the man in question was identified as Sean Donovan. A warrant was issued early Wednesday (March 26, 2025) morning for his arrest for one count of Attempted Kidnapping and one count of Simple Battery. 

STPSO further reports that Donovan’s location is known, and, at this time, he is no threat to the public.

Obituary

Julia Ann Shaw Smith

September 3, 1946 - March 25, 2025

STPSO Finds Drugs at Residence in Presence of 10-year-old Child

After illegal narcotics and a firearm were located during a traffic stop, Detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Proactive Enforcement Unit relocated to the driver’s residence where they found more illegal drugs and a 10-year-old child.

On March 14, 2025, Detectives with the Proactive Enforcement Unit attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling northbound on Lee Road after observing the vehicle cross the center line. The driver traveled for a mile and half before finally pulling over. The driver, 36 year-old Michael Andriotto, was taken into custody and found to be in possession of nine bags containing approximately 2 total grams of suspected methamphetamine and approximately 5 total grams of suspected fentanyl. Detectives also  located a loaded handgun near Andriotto’s passenger’s seat. Andriotto is a felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Detectives then relocated to Andriotto’s residence in the 19000 block of North 12th Street in Covington and made contact with Andriotto’s girlfriend, 27 year-old Audrey McKay; and Andriotto’s 10-year-old child. Detectives also located and seized approximately 14 grams of suspected marijuana; 2.5 grams of methamphetamine; a quarter ounce of fentanyl, numerous used and unused syringes; and other items of drug paraphernalia. Detectives located these items in close proximity to where the juvenile sleeps. The Department of Family and Children Services was notified and the juvenile was released to the custody of a family member.

Michael Andriotto was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the following charges: Possession with the Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Fentanyl), Possession with the Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Methamphetamine), Possession with the Intent to Distribute Schedule I CDS (Marijuana), Possession of Schedule III CDS (Suboxone), Illegal Possession of CDS in Presence of a Juvenile, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Firearm by a convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of a CDS, Resisting an Officer, Improper Lane Usage, and Littering.

Audrey McKay was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the following charges: Possession of Schedule II CDS (Fentanyl), Possession of Schedule II CDS (Methamphetamine), Possession of Schedule III CDS (Suboxone), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Schedule I CDS, and Illegal Possession of CDS in Presence of a Juvenile.

***All persons are innocent until proven guilty***

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for March 25, 2025

Jamaneil Brown (age 37 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Indecent Exposure and Criminal Trespass by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $4000.00.

Jonathan Esteve (age 34 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Obstruction of Justice/Evidence Tampering, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Heather Tolbert (age 41 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Probation Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

Anna Phelps (age 45 with Mt. Hermon, La. address) was booked on the charge of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

Corwin Norred (age 34 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Simple Battery With Injury (2 counts). Bond set at $3500.00.

Steven Cotton (age 33 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Parole Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

Rebecca Robinson (age 37 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Probation Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

***All persons are innocent until proven guilty***

Today's Healines from NPR News

Obituary

Jennifer Ann Smith

June 21, 1982 - March 21, 2025

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.

Tonight   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Calm wind.

Thursday   Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Light east wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday   A 30 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. 

Friday Night   A 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. 

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for March 23-24, 2025

Joshua Smith (age 30 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked In From Court

Chantellus Parkman (age 41 with Bassfield, Ms. address) was booked on the charge of Contempt of Court by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Roy Walker (age 65 with New Orleans, La. address) was booked on the charges of Home Invasion/Vandalism/Destruction and Criminal Trespass by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

James Carroll (age 49 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Aggravated Assault With a Firearm and Illegal Use of Weapons or Dangerous Instrumentalities by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Lorenzo James (age 28 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Domestic Abuse/Child Endangerment, Domestic Abuse Battery/Strangulation, Battery of a Dating Partner, and Contempt of Court by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Patrick Womack (age 34 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Home Invasion/Vandalism/Destruction, Domestic Abuse Battery, and Failure to Appear (2 counts) by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $13054.00.

***All persons are innocent until proven guilty***

Obituary

Katherine “Kathy” Moore Wallace

June 24, 1954- March 23, 2025

Today's Headlines from NPR News

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Areas of dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.

Tonight   Increasing clouds, with a low around 57. Calm wind.

Wednesday   A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday   Partly sunny, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Thursday Night   Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Two More Arrests in STPSO Sergeant’s Death

Two of the passengers in the vehicle that struck and killed St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Grant Candies early Sunday (March 23, 2025) morning have been arrested for First Degree Murder for the role they played in his death. 

The two arrests announced today (March 24, 2025) are of 17 year-old Mason Paul Eugene Fischer and 17 year-old Michael Emanuel Lanier, both of Slidell. Fischer is being booked for First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder, Possession with intent to distribute Schedule 1 and Obstruction of Justice. Lanier is being booked for First Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree Murder.

Shortly after midnight Sunday morning, Sgt. Candies was assisting with a pursuit by deploying a spike strip on Interstate 10 near the Oak Harbor Exit when he was struck by the perpetrator’s vehicle and killed. The pursuit began on Brownswitch Road, when a STPSO deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle and the driver fled at high rate of speed, refusing to stop. The pursuit ended when the perpetrator’s vehicle crashed into an NOPD unit on the Southshore.

The vehicle was occupied by five individuals. The driver, 17 year-old Adrian Waughtal of Slidell, who was arrested and booked Sunday morning in Orleans Parish as a fugitive and was transported to St. Tammany Parish, where he was booked for Aggravated Flight, First Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree Murder.  

***All persons are innocent until proven guilty***

“I ask our community to please pray for Sgt. Candies’ family as well as his blue family – his coworkers and other members of law enforcement,” Sheriff Smith said. “Sgt. Candies death reiterates the dangers our deputies face every day when they put on their badge. While we grieve, we also honor and we remember a man who lived with purpose, who led with strength and who left behind a legacy that won’t be forgotten. His laughter, his wisdom and his drive will carry on in the deputies he mentored, in the family he adored and in the community he gave his life to protect. Thank you Sgt. Candies. We got it from here.”

WPSO Arrests Driver for DWI (& More), 5 Children Fed & Turned Over to Grandmother

On Saturday (March 22, 2025), 29-year-old Kashman Donshell Coleman of Mt. Hermon, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated-With Child Endangerment, Speeding 11-20 Over Limit, Following Too Close With or Without Accident, Illegal Tinted Windshield/Side Windows, four counts of Child Restraint Violation-1st offense, No Motor Vehicle Insurance, Possession of Stolen Things Between $5000 and $25000 (felony), License-Unlawful Use Of, and License Plates Switched. Coleman was released on a $30,000 bond the next day.

On March 22nd, at approximately 10:00 AM, Washington Parish Sheriff's Office deputies initiated a traffic stop on Highway 10 after observing an erratic driver. During the stop, deputies became aware of five juveniles in the vehicle, none of which were restrained, including two infants. The impaired driver was arrested, and deputies brought the children back to the Sheriff’s Office until a family member could be located to take custody.

Upon seeing the hungry children, trustees of the Washington Parish Jail jumped into action and cooked a special meal for them while they waited. Eventually, the uncooperative suspect advised that her mother lived and worked in Mt. Hermon, and after making DCFS aware of the situation, all five children were turned over to their grandmother in good spirits and well-fed.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, or dealing with the many challenges associated with parenthood, there are resources in Washington Parish that can help you find a positive way forward. Talk to a family member, visit your local church, or reach out to the Sheriff’s Office for help. As a community, we must extend grace and a helping hand to those who are most in need, so that we may all prosper together.

Please visit the Louisana Department of Children and Family Services website for a complete list of community and state resources.

Today's Headlines from NPR News

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight   Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Calm wind.

Tuesday   Areas of fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night   Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Calm wind.

Wednesday   Sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.

Wednesday Night   Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. East wind around 5 mph.

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for March 22, 2025

Burlon Bateman (age 52 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Probation and Parole Hold by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

James Dutruch (age 42 with Angie, La. address) was booked on the charges of Resisting an Officer/Flight on Foot and Theft $25000 or More by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Michael Turnage (age 40 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Domestic Abuse/Aggravated Assault by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Kashman Coleman (age 29 with Mt. Hermon, La. address) was booked on the charges of Driving While Intoxicated With Child Endangerment, Speeding 11-20 Over Limit, Following Too Close, Illegal Tinted Windshield/Side Windows, Child Restraint Violation (5 counts), No MVI, No Proof of Insurance, Possession of Stolen Things 5000-25000, Unlawful Use of License, and Switched License Plates by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $30000.00.

Craig Magee (age 59 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Driving While Intoxicated, Driving Under Suspension, and Failure to Appear (2 counts) by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $5150.00.

***All persons are innocent until proven guilty***

STPSO Sergeant Grant Candies Killed in the Line of Duty

A Message from St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith

St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith and the men and women of the STPSO are heartbroken to share that we are suffering an unimaginable loss. Early this morning, Sergeant Grant Candies was killed in the line of duty while attempting to deploy spike strips on Interstate 10 near the Oak Harbor exit. The perpetrator, fleeing from a pursuit, struck him, taking the life of a husband, a father, a Marine, a mentor, and a true leader among his peers.

Sergeant Candies was the kind of deputy every agency hopes to have. He spent five years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, three years on inactive duty, and carried that same dedication and discipline into his career in law enforcement when he joined the STPSO in 2016. “𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩" is a principle he carried into his role as a Field Training Officer in the Criminal Patrol Division. To him, training new deputies wasn’t just about teaching tactics, but it was about shaping them into the kind of deputies who serve with integrity, courage, and compassion.

His path to law enforcement was one of fate and devotion to his family, to his community, and to a calling greater than himself. Originally from Luling, Sergeant Candies grew up watching his father serve with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office for over 30 years. Though he once dreamed of becoming a Marine Corps pilot, meeting his wife, Courtney, at Southeastern Louisiana State University changed his trajectory. Love anchored him here, in St. Tammany Parish, where he chose to serve and protect the place his family calls home.

More than anything…Grant was a family man. He and Courtney built a beautiful life together, raising their two children, Brenna and Bryson, with the same values he carried every day, strength, kindness, and unwavering commitment. Whether he was teaching his kids how to hunt and fish, working on their small farm, or simply enjoying time together, he was the kind of dad every kid deserves…the fun kind, the protective kind, the kind who made sure his family knew they were loved beyond measure.

Grant never did this job for recognition, but his leadership spoke volumes. He was named Deputy of the Year for 2023, and true to his humble nature, his response was simple: “When my team succeeds, I have succeeded.” He didn’t care about titles or awards. He cared about people, about doing the right thing, and about making a difference.

So, while we grieve, we also honor. We remember a man who lived with purpose, who led with strength, and who left behind a legacy that won’t be forgotten. His laughter, his wisdom, his drive…they will carry on in the deputies he mentored, in the family he adored, and in the community he gave his life to protect.

Rest easy, Sergeant Candies. Your watch may have ended, but your impact will never fade.

End of Watch: March 23, 2025 💙🖤💙

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   A 20 percent chance of showers after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 15 mph.

Tonight   A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Low around 61. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday   A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday Night   Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Calm wind.

Tuesday   Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night   Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Calm wind.

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for March 21, 2025

Terrell Dyson (age 34 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Possession of Stolen Things 1000-5000 by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

Donarich Taylor (age 43 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by the Franklinton Police Department. No bond set at this time.

Bryant Myers (age 28 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Battery of a Correctional Facility Employee (2 counts), Simple Escape, and Tampering With Surveillance Accounting Inventory or Monitoring Systems of Jail. Bond set at $3500.00.

Desean Brumfield (age 38 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Unlawful Use of Social Network by Sex Offender (4 counts) by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.

Jennifer McDaniel (age 52 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked In From Court

Darbie Smith (age 29 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Pornography Involving Juveniles (80 counts), Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Carnal Knowledge of Juvenile (2 counts), and Indecent Behavior With Juvenile(s) by the Franklinton Police Department. No bond set at this time.

***All persons are innocent until proven guilty***

Local Forecast for the Next Few Days

For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page. 

Today   Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight   Mostly clear, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph.

Sunday   Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night   A slight chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Low around 61. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday   A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. West wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

Monday Night   Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Calm wind.

Former Washington Parish Teacher Arrested On Multiple Sexual Abuse Charges

District Attorney Collin Sims and Franklinton Chief of Police Justin Brown report that on March 21, 2025, a lengthy and thorough investigation by the Franklinton Police Department has resulted in today’s arrest of 29-year-old Darbie Colette Smith, formerly a schoolteacher in Washington Parish.  

As a result of a labor-intensive effort spanning four months, the Franklinton Police Department secured an arrest warrant charging Ms. Smith with eighty (80) counts of pornography involving juveniles, one count of computer aided solicitation, one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile, and two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

The District Attorney’s Office and Franklinton Police Department are committed to the thorough investigation and vigorous prosecution of this case and all cases involving sexual abuse of minors.

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***

Obituary

Carolyn Merritt Higgins

December 16, 1935 - March 20, 2025

Obituary

Georgianna ("Gigi) Asprion Reynolds

August 17, 1947 - March 19, 2025

Mt. Hermon Ruritan Club Beryl Schilling Memorial Golf Tournament Fundraiser

Washington Parish Jail Bookings for March 20, 2025

Gage Russo (age 21 with St. Bernard, La. address) was booked on the charges of Simple Burglary (2 
counts), Resisting an Officer (2 counts), Possession of Firearm With Obliterated Serial Number, and Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $105000.00.

Ijenne White (age 30 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Simple Burglary (2 counts) by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $50000.00.

Benjamin Thigpen (age 62 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Possession of Heroin by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.

***All persons are innocent until proven guilty***